Here are the big stories from Karnataka today

Karnataka Today newsletter: State issues safety guidelines for tourists in aftermath of Hampi rape case, and more

After the recent rape of two women and murder of a tourists at one of Karnataka’s most famous tourist destinations, Hampi, the Home Department has issued guidelines to be followed by homestay and resort-owners for the safety of tourists. As per the guidelines, all homestay and resort-owners should take appropriate measures to keep the tourists safe, and to avoid such incidents in the future. 

“If homestay or resort-owners want to take their domestic or international guests to the outskirts or deserted places, then they should inform the jurisdictional police and obtain their permission. If they take them to deserted places or forest areas without the permission of the police or Forest Department, then the homestay or resort-owners will be responsible for any mishap that occurs due to wild animals or anti-social elements. They will be subjected to legal action and punishment,” it says.

The Karnataka government has appointed senior IAS officer Gaurav Gupta to investigate the protocol violations by actress Ranya Rao at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) and also the possible role of her stepfather K. Ramachandra Rao, Director-General of Police, Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation, in the gold smuggling case.

In a separate order, the government has also directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to probe the possible negligence and dereliction on the part of police personnel and submit a report. In the first order, issued on March 10, 2025, the government has asked Mr. Gupta, who is Additional Chief Secretary, to head the inquiry and submit a report within a week.

The Karnataka legislative Assembly witnessed pandemonium on March 11 as the opposition BJP and JD(S) members demanded immediate scrapping of guarantee schemes implementation committees, headed by Congress workers and leaders at the State, district, and taluk levels, as the schemes are funded by the State exchequer.

The opposition termed as ‘illegal’ the formation of committees to implement guarantee schemes. It said committees should be headed by MLAs, and not Congress party workers. The budget for 2025-26 has allocated ₹51,034 crore for the guarantees schemes. Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar said the government would consider the issue but ruled out immediate scrapping of the committees.

Former education minister and Congress leader B.K. Chandrashekar, former ISEC director R.S. Deshpande and former ISEC professor N. Sivanna have proposed that the name of Dr. V.K.R.V. Rao, an exemplary institution builder, will be most appropriate for Bengaluru City University, and not that of former prime minister Manmohan Singh.